Kia Soul: The End of an Era
2025-10-10
When it first hit the market 16 years ago, I never would have imagined that the Kia Soul would become such an icon in its class. Today, after three generations, over 1.5 million units sold, and numerous awards, the time has sadly come to say goodbye to this legendary model.
You could say that the Kia Soul defined an entire generation. It was one of the first subcompact SUVs to truly achieve widespread success. The Korean automaker showed great boldness—both in the design and in the overall concept—and the Soul ultimately became a true benchmark in its category.
Why?
It’s a fair question. After all, the Soul remains a popular model with plenty of appeal. In my opinion, Kia chose to retire it while it’s still at the top of its game, as the current platform has reached its full potential. Moreover, removing the Soul from the lineup allows the brand to make room for a more modern vehicle.
The Soul has become a genuine icon, and while that comes with advantages, it also presents certain challenges. Kia can’t simply reuse the “Soul” name for a completely different model, since people strongly associate that name with the vehicle as it exists today. Updating it would have required radical changes that might have altered its personality. By discontinuing it now, the Soul bows out with its reputation intact. This also opens the door for Kia to revive the name in a few years—with a new concept and design.
Between a Car and an SUV
The Kia Soul was one of the first vehicles to truly bridge the gap between a car and an SUV. I believe that’s part of why it was loved by so many from the very beginning. Its distinctive, dynamic styling also played a major role in its popularity. In short, it’s a model that will be fondly remembered for years to come.
Jean-Sébastien Poudrier
